Are we any closer to tackling health inequalities in England?

The aim of this article is to examine the recent progress made by Government to improve public health and address health inequality. Elected in July 2024, the Labour government has promised to deliver a transition from reactive to preventative health policy, and in doing so tackle social and geographic disparities in public health. However, this government pledge is not new and recent progress has been limited. This article examines recent progress in an area of policy that is increasingly recognised as a critical wider determinant of health, notably the link between the urban environment and health outcomes. Our analysis is based on extensive co-production with central and local government. Drawing on co-production logs and the fieldnotes of an embedded researcher, this article reflects on the progress made under the Conservative’s levelling up agenda and considers the potential of Labour’s health mission. Our findings reveal that, while the headline figures on health inequality signal failure, there are glimmers of hope in creating new ‘opportunity spaces’ for doing things differently. We conclude that the critical intersection between new social science evidence and the entrepreneurial agency of public officials at a national and local level will be pivotal in making any headway against this target. Moreover, this must sit alongside more government investment if health inequality is to be addressed.